Experience Design and Production Special Instructor

School: School of Theater, Technical Direction
Program: Experience Design and Production
Status: Special Faculty
Appointment Details: Furnished in Special Faculty contract
Bargaining Unit: Special Faculty Unit, UAW

Position Overview
The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) School of Theater seeks a forward-thinking, collaborative, and highly skilled Special Faculty member. /. This role also serves in a Technical Director capacity to bridge teaching and practice, combining curricular development, coursework, and student mentorship with oversight of student-centered production work for a multi-show performance season.

The Special Faculty member will oversee the technical execution, structural engineering, safety, and physical realization of all School of Theater productions across a diverse ecosystem of experimental spaces. This position is central to fostering an environment where student artists can safely push the boundaries of contemporary performance.

Appointment

Salary Range: $75K-$85K, commensurate with experience. This is a 9-month special faculty position, with potential for renewal.

Key Responsibilities
1. Instruction (or Teaching), as assigned by the Dean, or their designee.

• Instruction: Teach specialized courses in technical direction, structural design, and other related special topics which could include technical management, electronics, rigging, drafting, etc.
• Student Advising: Serve as a mentor and advisor to BFA and MFA students in the Experience Design and Production program.
• Production Mentorship: Act as the primary faculty mentor for student technical directors assigned to school productions, guiding them through the engineering, budgeting, and build processes.

2. Technical Production

• Technical Execution: Provide overarching technical leadership for a rigorous production season, ensuring artistic visions are realized safely and efficiently. The number of productions includes but is not limited to: 8-10 curricular productions, informal oversight of 10-12 Coffee House Production and miscellaneous Institute special events as requested.
• Structural Integrity: Review and approve all structural, rigging, and mechanical drawings for productions.
• Scheduling: Coordinate production schedules with faculty and staff.

3. Financial Budgeting & Administration

• Budgeting: Develop, track, and reconcile technical production budgets, including material expenses and student labor costs.
• Asset Management: In partnership with the Scene Shop Manager and Production Manager oversee the procurement, maintenance, and inventory of shop tools, hardware, and specialized theatrical equipment.
• Space Oversight: Monitor the condition of theatrical spaces, recommend maintenance, replacement, and safety-related upgrades.

4. Venue Management & Oversight

• Overseethe technical infrastructure and operational safety of the following primary performance spaces:
  • The Modular Theater: CalArts’ one-of-a-kind highly flexible performance space featuring reconfigurable floor sections and wall sections. Benefits from advanced knowledge of variable acoustics, unique rigging grids, and modular architecture.
  • Two (2) Black Box Theaters: Versatile spaces dedicated to student-driven, experimental, and variable-scape workshops and full productions.
  • The Coffeehouse: A non-traditional venue used for experimental work, student showcases, and interdisciplinary projects.

5. Safety & Compliance

• Safety Compliance: Maintain and enforce strict health and safety protocols (including OSHA and Cal/OSHA compliance) across all shops and venues.
• Training: Oversee student safety training, equipment certifications, rigging inspections, and safe operation of powered equipment.

6. Service

• Service: Participate in faculty governance matters, admissions reviews, student reviews, and curriculum development.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with faculty and guest artists across directing, design, and performance.